Bees attend Kicks Football Festival

Earlier this month, an Under-16’s team was selected to attend a Kicks Football Festival hosted by Colchester United FC, with the following football clubs in attendance: Charlton Athletic, Dagenham and Redbridge, Fulham, Luton Town, MK Dons, Watford and West Ham United. The team of 12 were selected from different sessions across the PL Kicks, Street Sports and Be Inspired projects.

All players had the opportunity to take part in a fun and competitive football festival with educational workshops and activities delivered by charities such as: Only Cowards Carry and Hope Not Hate. GAME (Computer store in Colchester), and Parachute Regiment were also in attendance throughout day.

This U16’s team trains every Friday during school year at Swift Road, a Be Inspired session, which attracts players from the surrounding neighborhoods. Players were chosen from PL Kicks sessions (Acton Park and Ealing) and other sessions across the Community Sports Trust such as Street Sports (Ivy Bridge) and Be Inspired (Swift Road).

‘’I am pleased to see players coming together since April 2017. There has been a clear progress since the first session and would be great to see the group developing throughout this upcoming school year’’ – Jerome Okimo, Multi-Sports Coach (Be Inspired session coach).

‘’Yesterday was a great day for all participants, mainly as it was their first experience playing together in in a competitive tournament. I believe this would encourage and motivate more participants across the projects to take part in our weekly sessions’’ – Rifat Prushi, Communities Engagement Officer.

‘’It was a pleasure to attend the Under-16’s Colchester Kicks Festival. All participants were highly motivated and engaged throughout the tournament. It is extremely positive witnessing a group of participants from different areas and projects, coming together as one team and to perform positively in a short period of time.’’ – Tomas Abreu, Communities Engagement Coordinator.

To find out more information about our Kicks, Street Sports and Be Inspired sessions click here.